Still bound from shoulders to ankles and stripped of all their weapons in the struggle, the Avalons lay prostrate on the stone floor. They rolled about and tried to prop themselves up against each other or the smooth, rounded cave wall, wiggling like giant, maimed worms and cursing like hardened seamen or battle-weary soldiers.

Andrew let out a theatrical sigh of relief when he and Andromeda managed to inch their way into a semi-sitting position with their backs pressed together.

“Can you untie each other’s ropes from that position?” said Michael, panting on the floor.